Page 51 of Craved By the Alien Warlord

That would give me plenty of opportunities to visit it in the future, and I told him so. "I would love to visit the market, but I really want to see your stronghold first."

"Our stronghold," he corrected gently.

It still felt strange to me, but I conceded, "Ours."

After he had asked me to marry him that day, he had made an official announcement during Alahna and Brogan's welcome feast, and that was that.

Kendryx took my hand and kissed it. "Tomorrow, we will seek out the jeweler and have a ring made for you. I heard that this is a human tradition to announce their mated status."

That he had inquired about it warmed my heart. Kendryx was the most thoughtful man I had ever met, and I counted myself lucky to call him mine.

"I would like that,” I admitted, smiling up at him.

We rode around the market, and my eyes drank in all the wares offered. From bed sheets to swords, saddles, food, herbs, clothing, and so on. Some of the aromas tickled my nose and awakened my taste buds, and I couldn't wait to return here and explore the multitude of booths.

When we exited the city though, I was rendered speechless by Kendryx's stronghold, maybe a mile away. Different from Brogan's stronghold, Kendryx's wasn't built on a cliff, but at sea level, with parts of it even buried into the sea. The other part was surrounded by a deep moat, probably also filled with seawater. Not as effective as Brogan's quicksand, but it would slow attackers down.

Several square towers stood proudly up into the sky, surrounded by patrol paths, giving the sentries a wide view of the sea to the south and the forested land in all the other directions.

A lowered drawbridge allowed us access into the large courtyard that easily swallowed our group and would have accommodated at least double our numbers without squeezing anybody.

The stables were located to my right, and what appeared like housing took over two other walls, presumably where the soldiers slept.

Wide stairs led up to the stronghold proper, accessible through a set of two large double doors, which stood open at the moment, greeting the warlord of Dokkymburg.

Servants poured out, and I hoped Kendryx didn't expect me to be in charge of them, like I had read the lady of the house did in medieval times. Besides not having the first idea on how to run a household, I was much more comfortable ordering soldiers around. Just the thought of scaring a maid to tears with my commanding voice made me uncomfortable. I had watched, impressed by how nice Alahna and Damaris were to their servants, giving orders without making it seem so. Being nice just wasn't my modus operandi. Then again, I mused, I could learn. Nothing wrong with that.

Kendryx introduced me as his mate, and I met the steward and other heads of the servants, making my head spin with all the names, and I wondered if it would be wrong to make them wear nametags like my soldiers did.

"Come." Excited like a little boy, Kendryx pulled me by the hand into the building, where, after passing a short hallway with stairs going up on either side, we entered the feasting hall, similar to the one at Grymburg.

That wasn't where Kendryx was pulling me though. We crossed the feasting hall, and I barely had time to take in the many long tables with one sitting on a dais against the wall before we rushed up a wide, carved set of stairs.

It was cooler in here, despite the many gas fireplaces I noticed.

We ran down another set of stairs before he turned us down a hallway, straight for a set of double doors guarded by two Thyres, who opened the doors for us immediately.

"Our rooms," Kendryx said as if I hadn't already guessed so. The pride he took with the rooms made me bite back any snide remark.

It was breathtaking.

An array of couches was arranged in front of a large, roaring fireplace. I assumed it was gaslit like all the others I had seen on Thyre. Off to the side was a small dining table, more intimate than the great hall, and I could picture us sitting here enjoying each other's company over a good meal.

Though what captured most of my attention was the view of the Dark Sea from a large balcony. It was breathtaking.

Comfortable-looking chairs seemed to invite me to sit on them when I stepped out, and from only a few feet below us, I could hear the water lapping against the wall.

I had no idea how the Thyres had built this right into the ocean, but it was amazing.

"And look." Kendryx proudly pointed at a set of fishing poles leaned against the wall.

I laughed happily. We could fish right from our balcony.

"Come." He didn't give me any time to take in more of the view or revel in the idea of fishing from my living room before he pulled me back through the main room and into another.

"And here is where I will show you every night how much I love you," Kendryx said, pulling me to the large four poster bed filled with blankets and furs.

"Oh yeah?" I teased. "Prove it."

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